Cream Cheese Strawberry Coffee Cake

Have you ever tried cooking with light butter? I have found it to work well with cake-like items such as muffins and coffee cakes. If you are looking for a way to cut fat and calories, you may want to consider a light butter. My favorite brand is Land O' Lakes. This coffee cake was very good as a dessert, but would also be nice to accompany a light breakfast.


serves 24 ( 3 points + )

• 8 oz. reduced fat cream cheese
• 1 c. sugar
• ½ c. light stick butter, softened
• 1-¾ c. flour, divided
• 2 eggs
• ¼ c. skim milk
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. vanilla
• ¼ tsp. salt
• ½ c. strawberry jam.
• powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 and spray a 13 x 9" pan with nonstick spray.

In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, and sugar until smooth. Add ¾ c. flour, eggs, milk, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla and salt. Beat until combined. Add remaining 1 c. flour and beat until just mixed. Spread evenly in prepared pan.

Stir strawberry jam until nearly smooth. Spoon 8-10 mounds on top of the batter. With a sharp knife, swirl jam into batter.

Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center of the cake part comes out clean. Cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.


adapted from "Eat Well, Lose Weight"